GFFT e.V.
GFFT e.V. - Non-profit Society for Research Transfer
Think Tank for Innovation in Germany
Purpose
The non-profit Society for the Promotion of Research Transfer (GFFT) is an innovation research institute dedicated to strengthening innovation capacity in German-speaking countries and across Europe. Our mission is to examine current initiatives in politics, business, and academia, facilitate discussions, and identify new approaches. Through United Innovations, it has launched a knowledge transfer platform used by many partners, which it uses to fulfill its mission of knowledge transfer on a daily basis and through which it can test new formats, tools, and proposals in real-world settings.
More relevant than ever! The GFFT Manifesto on Technology Transfer from 2017
GFFT Honorary and Board of Trustees Members Call for a Joint Effort by Business, Academia, and Politics
When it comes to innovation, Germany ranks near the top but not at the very top, both internationally and within the EU. Countries such as Japan and China have already caught up with us, and India is also closing the gap thanks to its openness to new technologies. At the same time, the gap between us and leading nations like South Korea and Sweden is widening. Those who rest on their laurels—relying on yesterday’s innovations—can quickly miss out on new technologies and find themselves left behind in the global race—the competition never sleeps.
For this reason, we, the honorary and board members of the GFFT, are addressing our manifesto to decision-makers in the fields of research, business, and politics. We wish to demonstrate that working together to strengthen Germany’s innovative capacity is the key to our long-term prosperity.
History
2006: The non-profit organization Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Forschungstransfers e.V. (GFFT e.V.) was founded with the aim of providing researchers and start-ups with a functional network of contacts. The impetus for this was the realization that many potentially valuable preliminary developments had been tested only under laboratory conditions, but not under real-world conditions in the business world.
To avoid becoming dependent on donations and volunteer work, the GFFT should be structured in such a way that it is financially self-sustaining, i.e., based on the transfer services it provides and the results it achieves. Consequently, all of the GFFT’s economic activities have been legally consolidated within GFFT Technologies GmbH.
2017: Publication of the GFFT Manifesto for Technology Transfer, written by the members of the Board of Trustees and honorary members of GFFT e.V. This document outlines the goals toward which we, as a nation and as a European society, should strive. As a result of this manifesto, the social innovation network United Innovations was conceived and established.
This now enables GFFT e.V. to initiate necessary development initiatives in Europe through its diverse networking activities, such as topic-specific workshops, the German Startup Cup, and the techL technology database.
Activities
Rethinking Innovation
GFFT follows two missions:
- In contrast to successful Innovation Hubs like Silicon Valley we proposed to build up a Network Approach to make Germany more innovative.
- GFFT has founded United Innovations in order to effectively achieve Innovation.
Measuring Key Performance Indicators
- Success factors in research transfer
- The impact of innovation formats such as boards, labs, summits, or technology roadmaps
- Measuring the impact of innovation
- Funding for innovation projects
- The role of expert networks and advisory boards
- How can nonprofit organizations promote innovation without becoming operational market providers
Innovation Proposals will be published by Calls for Action
In the first step, every good idea submitted as part of the Technology Agenda 2030 is reviewed in the Security Lab to assess its potential revenue and evaluate its market value.
In the second step, a team is assembled to develop the product. Tasks are assigned, and shares are distributed.
In the third step, customers are approached to support the project as development partners or early adopters. The various Technology Marketing Offerings are utilized to achieve viability as quickly as possible.
Implementing new Transfer Processes by our Plattform United Innovations
Publication of the Ideas on our annual Summits
Every year, our major in-person events bring together leading minds from the field of cybersecurity. The most recent and next events are as follows:
- 17.3.2026 Cybersecurity Summit at Vodafone in Düsseldorf
- 12.5.2027 Cybersecurity Summit at T-Security in Bonn
Decision-makers and experts discuss cutting-edge technologies, share practical solutions, and jointly shape digital progress.
Our Partners
Our Members drive Innovation
Was andere über uns sagen
Honoring Visionaries
Honorary membership is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to scientific progress.
Enterprise Members
Management
- all
- Board
- Management
Dr, Gerd Große
Prof. Dr. Bernd Freisleben
Jürgen Peter
Dr. Wilfried Weiß
Board of Trustees
Prof. Dr. Oliver Günther
Dr. Andreas Resch
Prof. Dr. Walther Zimmerli
Mitmachen
Die GFFT e.V. ist ein gemeinnütziger Verein, dem man sich durch Beitritt anschließen und damit auch unterstützen kann.
GFFT e.V.
Niddastraße 6
61118 Bad Vilbel
Deutschland
Telefon: +49 6101 95498-10
Fax: +49 6101 95498-11
E-Mail: info@gfft-ev.de (Ihre Anfrage wird entsprechend unserer Datenschutzerklärung verarbeitet.)
Registergericht
Firmensitz/Registergericht: Bad Vilbel
Registergericht Frankfurt am Main
VR 14511
Vereinsvorstand
Dr. Gerd Große (Vorsitz), Jürgen Peter (Stellv. Vorsitz), Prof. Dr. Bernd Freisleben (Schatzmeister)